Enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits that lowered premiums for millions of enrollees expired as 2026 began, resulting in higher health insurance costs nationwide. The lapse affects individuals and families who rely on marketplace subsidies to afford coverage. Consumers, insurers and policymakers are monitoring the impact on premiums, enrollment and access to care across the United States.
President Donald Trump says he received a CT scan, not an MRI, during his October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The unannounced trip drew public attention and raised questions about the type of medical tests performed and the level of health transparency for sitting presidents. Officials described the visit as part of a routine physical exam. The White House did not release full medical details from the visit. Trump’s clarification adds a new specific detail to the public record about the imaging procedure carried out at Walter Reed.
Eighteen U.S. states plan to restrict how SNAP benefits can be used starting in 2026, blocking purchases of selected junk food items with federal nutrition funds. The measures will affect which products low-income households can buy with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, while allowing those items to remain available for purchase with other forms of payment. State agencies are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and retailers to define restricted foods, update store systems and notify SNAP participants before the rules take effect. CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver has reported on the developing policy changes and the timeline for implementation.
Newly released security videos from the federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 are drawing renewed scrutiny of the facility’s camera system. The footage, part of the expanding “Epstein files,” shows monitored areas near Epstein’s housing unit and is being examined for gaps, blind spots, and consistency with official timelines. Legal observers, journalists, and researchers are reviewing the material as questions persist about missing or unusable footage from the period surrounding Epstein’s death. The Bureau of Prisons faces ongoing inquiries over surveillance practices, video retention, and transparency.
Enhanced tax credits that lowered Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premiums for four years expired at midnight, affecting millions of marketplace enrollees. Consumers who relied on the temporary subsidies may now face higher monthly costs or need to change plans as exchanges recalculate financial assistance. The original ACA tax credit system remains in place, but without the pandemic-era boosts that expanded eligibility and reduced premiums for many households nationwide.
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor in a private midnight ceremony at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station, with New York Attorney General Letitia James administering the oath. The event, held as the new year began, took place away from the public and traditional inauguration sites such as City Hall. The historic but closed station provided a distinctive backdrop for the formal transfer of mayoral authority, while officials did not release additional details on attendees, broader inaugural events, or policy announcements linked to the ceremony.
The Trump administration has delayed planned tariff increases on imported furniture and kitchen cabinets for one year, citing affordability and housing-related concerns. The decision affects a wide range of finished furniture and cabinetry products and follows recent adjustments to other import duties. Industry groups, retailers, domestic manufacturers, and consumer advocates are assessing the impact of the postponement on prices, supply chains, and competitiveness across the U.S. housing and home improvement markets.
A U.S. District Court ruling allows ICE to obtain certain Medicaid information, including biographical data, for deportation purposes.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. senator and respected Native American leader, has died at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy in politics and Native American advocacy.
President Trump has issued his first vetoes since taking office again, rejecting two bills related to a water pipeline in Colorado and a tribal village project in the Everglades.